Is there anything that can be done or should I just walk away and leave them with the deposit?

Do not walk away because you'll owe them more than the deposit. Since your balance is about due, I'd say you're about 8-10 weeks to departure which means if you cancel between now and then you will be liable for cancellation fees up to a certain percentage of the total cost. You'll have to read the Ts and Cs to find out exactly how much you'd lose.

Tbh, I don't see that there's a lot you can do at the moment if they're saying that the work will be completed by then. Sit tight and see how things are looking a bit closer to the date.

If thomas cook are saying that the work is due to be finished in the next few weeks then they are only going off what the hotel have told them. However if they found out that the work is expected to last longer then they have a duty to offer an alternative of the the same standard or above. I would hang fire ans see what happens in the next couple of weeks. x

Hi whats the name of the hotel

Thanks for the replies. Have realised reading the T&C's that I need to formally cancel if that is what happens - other wise liable for loads more money later. At the moment would lose only the deposit but them it becomes the deposit and a % of the cost of the holiday. I do hope that isn't why Thomas cook said not to worry about paying the balance even though it was due yesterday.

The hotelis the Gran Bahia Principe Tulum - building a dolphinarium and a new clubhouse on the beach. There are photos on tripadvisor in posted recently showing deep concrete foundations and various internet sites suggest that it is planned for a year and is only 4 months in.

Would usually just wait and see and if necessary move closer to time but my wife has been ill and this is to help her recovery so may cancel to manage her stress levels.

Thanks for the helpful responses.

If you are 100% sure that there will be work going on then whatever you do, do not cancel now!
Wait until they have no choice but to tell you! Check out yourselves whats going on a few weeks before you go and confront them with the evidence. If as you say, work is going on then they will have to offer an alternative (to your satisfaction) or a refund!

Hi i have looked TA and WD and can find no mention of work going on at this hotel and the reviews are recent.

Out of the last 25 reviews on TA I think there is about 3 that mention construction work. One of those just says there is some by the southernmost part of the resort.
There are no major complaints coming in about it being a problem. The chances are you would nowhere near it anyway.
I would leave it until Thos Cook contact you about it. It is sometimes possible for tour operators to manage to have their guests located anyway from any works, so maybe that is what they are doing?

we went there a few years ago, the resort is quite wide so i dont think that you would be bothered with any building, there will always be a quiet place to go J
ps we had a great time

Hi there

Right then, will wait and see - I had pretty much talked myself out of it, but will wait for TC. Will report back closer to time.

thanks for the help.

I cant see why Thomas Cook will not let you change to a Thomson hotel on their website.
I was in Thomas Cook today and they were happy to sell me a Thomson hotel/holiday that was on their website.
They even gave the web price
If one branch can do this I would have thought others would do the same.
Why have Thomson hotels on their website if they are not prepared to sell them.

Jay Trip - Thomas Cook are in this instance acting as the agent and booking through Thomas Cook the tour operator , in essence 2 very different things. In order to change to the Thomson holiday , the OP would have to pay in full again , then wait for the refund (if any) to come through from Thomas Cook or simply lose the deposit and rebook with Thomson . Its not that it can t be done , it is in the OP's financial interest to stay with Thomas Cook the tour operator so's not to lose quite a substantial deposit .

We are booked here for Aug Labcollie . In fact it is 3 hotels in one (huge place) The tulum, the coba and The Akumal. I don't think you will be bothered by building work.

TC seem to be allocating people in Tulum but the construction work is only going on in a certain section there . (There is plenty of stuff over on the TA forums) . I've done reseach and have decided we actually want to be on the Tulum side but will email the hotel 2 weeks in advance with my request after reseaching room numbers etc .You could request coba or Akumal sides later if it's not finished and from what I've read requests are generally granted . Akumal & tulum section are both on the beath & coba behind but better rooms.

personally I would do your reseach and put in a request to the the hotel direct by email 14 days before arrival without bothering with TC. That's what I always do.

Kerry,I must have misread the OP as I just presumed the OP had seen a hotel on TC website that was a Thomson holiday.
I must admit I was surprised today when TC were prepared to sell me a Thomson holiday at the web price.

Jay
Any agent will book you a holiday with any tour operator. I think the OP had seen a Thomsons hotel/holiday on the TC website, but you can't transfer bookings between companies.